Rixtory

I have half a dozen old patch kits lying around unused because the glue has all dried up or hardened. I was looking at the Park Superpatch recently at my LBS and wondering how others have faired with them.

Also for those who use vulcanizing patches- I learned years ago that after smearing the glue around the hole, light a match and set the glue on fire for about 5-10 seconds before putting it out and puttng the patch on. Does anyone else still do this? I just patched up my tube this way tonight and in thinking back, I have never had a patch fail using this method.
Cheers
Rick

John E

I have had very good luck with good old European glue-on patches, and very poor results with glueless. I carry both types, plus a spare innertube, on the road, but at home I use glue-ons with an OLD bottle of Monkey Grip vulcanizing solvent. I have never lit my glue afire to remove the solvent, but I do let it sit for at least a couple of minutes before applying the patch.

DocF

I had a good friend, Hanley Taylor, who was in the tire repair supply business for many years. He told me that burning the solvent out of the vulcanizing "glue" actually produced a weaker patch because it would reduce the surface tack which was necessary to bond the patch to the tube. He said old timers in the service station business did it because they were used to hot patches which one would light to vulcanize them to the tube.

Patience produces pretty good results as one must wait for the "glue" to dry completely before applying the patch.

I carry self-adhesive patches when riding simply for the convenience.

Go to an auto parts store and get a tube of tire patch adhesive; it is inexpensive and will allow you to use up the patches you have. The one I currently have is called "Victor Rubber Cement".


Doc

Rev.Chuck

Old school glue and wait is the way to go for a permanent patch. I used to patch big truck tubes this way and as long as you waited for the glue to dry they lasted forever.